Choosing the right school: redefining performance in the contemporary Kenyan educational system

Abstract

Choosing the Right School: Redefining Performance in the Contemporary Kenyan Educational System Marcella Mwaka, George Kegode and Benjamin Wambua Kyalo Abstract: The principal aim of education is to promote good citizenry. However, the general perspective of educational system in Kenya today seeks to have an academically excellent student. This explains why every Kenyan parent or guardian seeks to have his or her child get a place in a top “performing” school. It is arguable that this trend sets us away from the national educational goals. There is therefore need to re-examine and redefine performance in educational practice and theory. This article adopts a critical-conceptual approach to analyse the relevant benchmarks that would define the “right” school that consequently ensures performance. Overall, three issues are presented. First, the national goals are redefined as the foundation of education in Kenya. Secondly, “performance” is discussed in the light of these goals. Finally, the article presents practical interventions that will guarantee that each and every school becomes a centre for holistic development of the learner. The article concludes that the Kenyan educational system needs to ensure that schools show commitment to achieving the national goals of education, otherwise schools will put the goals in a closet in the guise of “performing well” academically.